Electrode holder



Jul 23,1946. & N ELLY JR 2,404,437

ELECTRODE HOLDER Original Filed Feb. 19, 1945 is; M 23%: 42 4/ 46' IIEJI INVENTOR. 7/105. 5.00/V/V5LL y, we.

'H I's ATTOENEr Patented July 23, 1946 ELECTRODE HOLDER Thomas S.Donnelly,

Jr., Detroit, Mich., assignor to Bordon Mfg. 00., Inc., Detroit, Mich.,a corporation of Michigan Original application February 19, 1943, SerialNo.

476,481, now Patent No. 2,358,220, dated September 12,- 1944.

Divided and this application December 11, 1943, Serial No. 513,946

3 Claims.

This application constitutes a division of my.

copending application Serial No. 476,481, filed February 19, 1943, on anelectrode holder, now Patent No. 2,358,220 dated September 12, 1944.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an electrodeholder adapted for use in arc welding operations. In the use of suchholders gripping jaws are used for gripping an electrode. It iscustomary to construct these jaws so that the electrode may be grippedbetween the jaws and extended outwardly therefrom at various angles.This is usually accomplished by forming on the gripping faces of thejaws grooves extended diagonally to the length of the jaws. Thisarrangement, however, limits the angles at which the electrode may beextended.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrode holderso constructed and arranged that the gripping portion thereof may beeasily and quickly moved angularly to the handle to extend at variousangles relatively thereto so that the angle of extension of theelectrode may be changed without releasing it by the gripping members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electrode holderhaving an electrode gripping portion and a handle swingably connectedtogether and provided with means whereby these parts may be secured insubstantially fixed relation at various angles of relative swingingmovement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an electrode holderhaving a cable connector and an electrode gripping portion swingablyconnected together and provided with a flexible conductor whereby thecable connector and the gripping portion of the electrode holder may beelectrically connected so as to eliminate arcing at the point of pivotalconnection of these parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an electrode holderof a gripping jaw detachably mounted on a supporting member in such amanner that it may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made inthe detail of structure illustrated without departing from the inventionand it is intended that such changes shall be embraced within the claimsforming a part hereof.

Forming a part of this applicationis a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central vertical sec- 2 tional view of anelectrode holder embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of an electrode holder embodying theinvention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the inner face of a part ofthe invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing aslight modification,

In the drawing, I have shown an electrode holder embodying a handle 9 inwhich is mounted a barrel or cable connector [9 in which the bared endll of an electric conductor l2 may be secured by set screws 13 or in anyother suitable manner. Projecting forwardly from the barrel or cableconnector is a tongue 14 on which is adapted to engage a tongue l5formed on the supporting bar l6. Formed on the under face of thesupporting bar I6 is a groove I! in which is secured one end of aflexible electric connector such as a cable of fine strands. This cable18 is led through an opening IS formed in the barrel or cable connectorin and lies against the bared portion ll of the cable, a presser platell being pressed by the screw 13 against the cable l8. This cable I8 isof sufficient capacity so that the current desired to be delivered tothe electrode used may pass therethrough without excessive heating andin such a manner as to eliminate arcing between the parts l4 and 15.

The supporting prong I6 is provided at its forward end with a rib-likestructure 28 projecting upwardly from which are lugs 2| through whichextend a pivot pin 22 whereby the handle 23 is pivotally mountedthereon. This handle 23 carries a stud 24 which projects into the fibercup 26 embracing the coil spring 25. This fiber cup 26 telescopes withthe fiber cup 21 into which projects the stud 28 carried by the prongIt. A covering 29 of fiber or other suitable insulating material coversthe prong l6 and a similar cover of fiber 3U covers the handle 23.

The forward end of the handle 23 is formed in cross-section as shown inFig. 3 so as to embody oppositely facing dove-tailed portions 3| and 32.An insulating plate 33 is provided with a longitudinally extendinggroove 34 and is slid onto the forward end of the handle 23 so as toprotect it against the heat and against contact with live bodies. Aremovable gripping jaw 35 is. provided with a dove-tailed groove 36 andslipped onto the dove-tailed portion 32.

The portion 20 is formed in cross-section as shown in Fig. 3 to providethe dove-tailed portion 38. A removable gripping jaw 39 is provided withthe longitudinally extending dove-tailed groove 40 and slipped onto theportion 38 so that the jaws 35 and 39 may cooperate to grip an electrodetherebetween. An insulating plate 4.! formed from fiber Or othersuitable material is provided with a dove-tailed groove 42 and slippedonto the dove-tailed portion 3?.

It will be noted that the insulation plates above and below and thedetachable jaws above and below are substantially duplicates of eachother and are mounted in substantially the same manner. It will be notedfrom Fig. 4 that the dove-tailed portions 3 I, 32, 38 and 31 taperlengthwise so that as the insulation plates on the jaws are driven on, abinding press fit is obtained. It will also be noted that the opposedface of the insulation plate M, as indicated at 43, bears against theopposed face 44 of the jaw 39 and this engagement of the opposed facesof the jaws and the cooperating insulating plate is such as to bind bothof these members on the dove-tailed portion on which they are slid.

This construction makes it possible to remove and replace the jaws whenthey become worn or burned out. It also makes it possible to remove andreplace the insulation plates when they become worn or burned out.Experience has shown that the insulation plates will not last as long asthe jaws and that consequently they are in a condition requiringreplacement much sooner than are the jaws. When the insulation has beenburned away so that the jaws are exposed and liable to contact with livebodies, the insulation plates should be removed and replaced, asotherwise the jaws may be brought into contact with live bodies andburned or damaged.

Experience has shown, however, that the operators will not replace orhave replaced the insulation plates when they become worn, with theresult that the jaws are subjected to unnecessary wear and abuse. Due tothe fact that the insulation plates serve to bind the jaws on thedovetailed portion and the jaws serve to bind the insulation plates, theoperator will be more par ticular in replacing the insulation plateswhen they become worn. This is due to the fact that when the insulationplates become worn, the jaws will become loose on the supportingdovetailed portion.

A bolt 45 is projected through the tongues l4 and I to pivotally securethese parts together. The bolt is provided with a nut 45% which pressesagainst the spring washer Al. One of the tongues is provided withrecesses 48 in which engage the spaced-apart bosses at. Consequently,the prong l6 and parts carried thereby may be swung relatively to thehandle 3 to various positions of inclination, as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 2. When this swinging strain is exerted on the memher it,the bosses 49 will ride out of the recesses 43 against the compressionof the spring 41, and when rotated into registration with the nextrecess, the bosses 49 will snap into the recesses. This makes itpossible for the operator to have the electrode projecting straight outfrom the jaws and yet extend the electrode angularly of the handle 9 atthe desired angularity.

By threading the set screw 5| into the recess 50, the tongues l4 and i5may be located in any desired position, these recesses 56 being spacedapart and extended in an arc. In Fig. 8, I have shown the screw 5!serving as a set screw bearing against the tongue [5, the recess 58being eliminated. This permits the locating of the prong I6 and thehandle [9 at any degree of swingable movement.

What I claim as new is:

1. In an electrode holder of the class described, a metallic grippingmechanism for gripping. an electrode; a metallic supporting member forsaid gripping mechanism and extending rearwardly thereof; a handle; ametallic connector mounted in said handle for connection to an electricconductor; means for pivotally connecting said supporting member andsaid connector; and a flexible electric conducting member connectingsaid supporting member and said connector and shunting the pivotalconnection.

2. In an electrode holder of the class described, a metallic electrodegripping mechanism; a handle; a metallic connecting member mounted insaid handle for connection to an electric conductor; a metallicsupporting member mounted on and extending rearwardly of said grippingmechanism; means for pivotally connecting said supporting member andsaid connector, said sup-- porting member being swingable on its pivotto various angles of inclination relatively to said handle; and aflexible electrical connector connecting said supporting member and saidconnector.

3. In an electrode holder of the class described. a metallic electrodegripping mechanism; a handle; a metallic cable connector mounted in saidhandle and adapted for attachment to an electric conductor; a metallicsupporting member mounted on and extending rearwardly of said ppingmechanism; means for pivotaliy connecting said supporting member andsaid connector, said supporting member being swingable to various anglesof inclination to the axis of said handle; means for resisting theswinging of said supporting member from one angle of inclination toanother; and a flexible electrical conducting member electricallyconnecting said supporting member with a cable connected to said cableconnector and shunting the point of pivot.

THOMAS S. DONNELLY, JR.

